Snowshoe

ABSTRACT

A snowshoe comprising a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along its length; a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface; and one or more rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize the showshoe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an improved snowshoe construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Snowshoes are an efficient means of walking on relatively deepsnow cover. However, it takes an incredible amount of energy to move onsnowshoes at more than a walk. Also, snowshoes are an inefficient meansof moving on a down-slope because they do not glide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is therefore a primary object of this invention to accomplisha snowshoe that meets these limitations of the prior art.

[0004] It is a further object of this invention to provide such asnowshoe that allows the user to glide.

[0005] It is a further object of this invention to provide such asnowshoe that can glide downhill like a ski.

[0006] It is a further object of this invention to provide such asnowshoe that is laterally stable.

[0007] It is a further object of this invention to provide such asnowshoe that accomplishes variable drag so that the grip and glide canbe controlled.

[0008] This invention results from the realization that a snowshoe thatcan glide on the snow and is laterally stable like a ski can beaccomplished by providing a solid snowshoe deck with a binding thatallows pivoting above the top surface of the snowshoe so that thesnowshoe can glide through the snow. Lateral stability can then beaccomplished with one or more length-wise rails formed in the bottomsurface.

[0009] This invention features a snowshoe with a deck having an uppersurface and a bottom surface, and a boot binding mounted to the deck tohold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivotaxis that is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal traveldirection, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deckwhile maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface,comprising: the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining alongitudinal travel direction along its length; and one or more railsprojecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along thetravel direction, to stabilize the snowshoe.

[0010] The snowshoe may further comprise one or more cleats extendablebelow the bottom surface of the deck. The snowshoe may then include amechanism for extending each cleat below the bottom surface of the deck,and retracting each cleat above the bottom surface of the deck. Themechanism may be operated by a movable member on the top of the deck.The mechanism may be a rack and pinion cleat positioning device.

[0011] There are preferably at least two cleats. In one embodiment,there are at least three cleats, two closer to the front of the deck andone closer to the rear of the deck. Preferably, at least one cleat isproximate a rail.

[0012] The snowshoe preferably comprises at least two parallel rails.One or more rails preferably extend along at least most of the length ofthe deck. The deck preferably has wider front and rear portions and amore narrow mid portion. The boot binding may be in the mid-portion ofthe deck. The cleats may define a generally “V” shaped cross section,with the narrow portion facing forward.

[0013] Featured in another embodiment is a snowshoe, comprising: a deckhaving an upper surface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer thanit is wide, and defining a longitudinal travel direction along itslength; a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that theboot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deckand transverse to the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heelto come off the upper surface of the deck while maintaining the toeabove or on the deck upper surface; one or more rails projecting fromthe bottom surface of the deck and extending along the travel direction,to stabilize the snowshoe; and one or more cleats extendable below thebottom surface of the deck.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, the invention features a snowshoe,comprising: a deck having an upper surface and a bottom surface, thedeck being longer than it is wide, and defining a longitudinal traveldirection along its length; a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold aboot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axisthat is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal traveldirection, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deckwhile maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface; at leasttwo rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extendingalong the travel direction, to stabilize the snowshoe; at least twocleats extendable below the bottom surface of the deck; and a mechanismfor extending each cleat below the bottom surface of the deck, andretracting each cleat above the bottom surface of the deck..

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to thoseskilled in the art from the following description of the preferredembodiment, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of the preferred embodiment of thesnowshoe of the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of thesnowshoe of this invention, with a boot shown in phantom;

[0018]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of thesnowshoe of FIG. 2 detailing one of the moveable cleats; and

[0019]FIG. 4 is bottom view of the front portion of the snowshoe of theprevious figures showing the preferred embodiment with two rails, andshowing the two front cleats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] This invention may be accomplished in a snowshoe that has a soliddeck. A boot binding is mounted to the top of the deck and holds the toeabove the deck in a fashion such that the boot can pivot about the toeregion so that the user can lift his or her heel when taking a step.Because the toe stays above the deck, the snowshoe can glide like a ski.Accordingly, longer gliding steps can be taken, and the snowshoe can beused to glide downhill. Lateral stability is accomplished with one ormore longitudinal rails projecting from the bottom surface of the deck.

[0021] Additional grip can be provided with one or more retractablecleats that can be manipulated to project from the bottom surface of thedeck, or retracted. The depth of protrusion can be controlled. Thus,grip and drag can be controlled depending on the circumstances in whichthe snowshoe is being used, for example, the slope or the iciness of thesnow.

[0022] There is shown in FIG. 1 a top view of a preferred embodiment ofsnowshoe 10 according to this invention. This view is partiallyschematic as will become apparent with reference to the other drawings.Snowshoe 10 comprises deck 12 that has upper surface 13 and lowersurface 15 (FIG. 2). Deck 12 is solid except for the small openingsthrough which the cleats can move, as explained below. Deck 12 has widerfront 14 and rear 16 portions as compared to the more narrow mid-portion18 to create sides that allow carving turns, as can be accomplished witha ski. This particular outline shape is not a limitation of theinvention, however. The outline shape can be as desired in order tocreate a desired turning radius, and also for aesthetic purposes.

[0023] Deck 12 carries boot binding 20 that is mounted to the deck tohold the boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivotaxis that is above the deck and transverse to longitudinal traveldirection 9. This pivoting action allows the boot heel to come off theupper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or touchingthe upper surface of the deck. Because the toe does not project throughthe deck, the snowshoe is better able to glide over the surface of snowor ice. As described below, particularly with reference to FIGS. 3 and4, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes one or more cleatsthat can be selectively extended below the bottom surface of the deck toprovide additional grip or drag as desired.

[0024]FIG. 2 is a right side view of snowshoe 10 according to thisinvention. One longitudinal rail 36 is shown in this view, projectingfrom bottom surface 15 of deck 12, and extending along the traveldirection of the snowshoe for most or virtually all of the length of thesnowshoe, to provide lateral stability. One or more such rails help tolaterally stabilize the snowshoe so that the user can more easilytraverse slopped terrain and glide downhill and make carved turns, muchas with a ski.

[0025] Also shown in more detail in FIG. 2 is binding 20 which comprisesplate 40 fixed to upper surface 13 of deck 12. Plate 40 holds portion 47that holds pivot pin or axis 45. Portion 41 is pivotably coupled toportion 47 at pivot 45, so that the rear portion can move up and down asshown by arrow 42, and the front portion can pivot as shown by arrow 43.This allows heel 50 of boot 46 to lift off of surface 13 whilemaintaining toe portion 48 above or touching the top surface 13.Accordingly, the toe of the boot does not extend through the deck when astep is taken, which allows the snowshoe to glide on the snow. Thus,steps can be followed by a short glide, which makes jogging or runningeasier. Also, this allows the wearer to glide downhill, with the railsproviding the necessary lateral stability, and the narrow waist allowingski-like turns.

[0026]FIG. 2 also depicts cleat enclosures 31 and 32. The preferredembodiment of the cleats is shown in a cross-sectional, partiallydisassembled view in FIG. 3. Deck 12 comprises a typical ski-likeconstruction with foam core 60 and outer layers 61 and 62 that defineupper surface 13 and lower surface 15. Cleat 70 can be moved from theretracted position shown in solid line in the figure, in which end 71does not project below bottom surface 15, to an extended position shownby dotted portion 71 a, in which the cleat extends below bottom surface15. Preferably, the mount of such extension is selectable by the user sothat a desired amount of grip and/or drag can be accomplished with theone more cleats. In the preferred embodiment, cleat 70 carries rackportion 74 that is engaged with pinion 76 that can rotate in thedirection of arrow 78. Rotation is accomplished by movable lever member80 that is coupled to pinion 76. Other mechanisms for extending cleatsbelow the bottom surface of the deck and retracting cleats above thebottom surface of the deck can be used. For example, a two positionmechanism with a locking pin or detent could be used. There are myriadother possibilities that would be apparent to those skilled in themechanical arts. Preferably, the cleats are held at the desired positionusing a spring-loaded detent (not shown in the drawing) that holds thepinion in place, unless sufficient force is placed on the cleat (such asby stepping on a rock) to cause the pinion to rotate against the forceof the detent. Enclosure 31 prevents snow from jamming the cleatmovement mechanism and the detent.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment as shown partially in the bottom viewof front portion 14, FIG. 4, there are two cleats, 71 and 81, in frontsnowshoe portion 14. The preferred form of the cleats is the generally“V” shape cross-section as shown in FIG. 4, with the narrow portionfacing forward. This provides a more stream-lined shape for forwardgliding motion while also providing grip for a forward kick.Longitudinal rails 36 and 37 project from the deck bottom surface 15 andmay have a generally triangular shape as shown, or other desirableshape. Preferably, the rails and cleats are arranged such that thecleats are fairly close to the rails as shown by area 75, to accomplishadditional drag resulting from small build up of snow in area 75.Obviously, this is not a limitation of the invention. In the preferredembodiment as best depicted in FIG. 1, there is one cleat 32 in the rearportion of deck 12, with this cleat located between rails 36 and 37.Again, however, this is not a limitation of the invention.

[0028] Although specific features of this invention are shown in somedrawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as the featuresmay be combined as would be apparent to those skilled in the field.Other embodiments will occur to such persons skilled in the field, andare within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A snowshoe with a deck having an upper surfaceand a bottom surface, and a boot binding mounted to the deck to hold aboot such that the boot can pivot in its toe area about a pivot axisthat is above the deck and transverse to the longitudinal traveldirection, to allow the heel to come off the upper surface of the deckwhile maintaining the toe above or on the deck upper surface,comprising: the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining alongitudinal travel direction along its length; and one or more railsprojecting from the bottom surface of the deck and extending along thetravel direction, to stabilize the showshoe.
 2. The snowshoe of claim 1,further comprising one or more cleats extendable below the bottomsurface of the deck.
 3. The snowshoe of claim 2, further comprising amechanism for extending each cleat below the bottom surface of the deck,and retracting each cleat above the bottom surface of the deck.
 4. Thesnowshoe of claim 3, wherein the mechanism is operated by a movablemember on the top of the deck.
 5. The snowshoe of claim 3, wherein themechanism includes a rack and pinion cleat positioning device.
 6. Thesnowshoe of claim 2, wherein there are at least two cleats.
 7. Thesnowshoe of claim 6, wherein there are at least three cleats, two closerto the front of the deck and one closer to the rear of the deck.
 8. Thesnowshoe of claim 2, wherein at least one cleat is proximate a rail. 9.The snowshoe of claim 1, comprising at least two parallel rails.
 10. Thesnowshoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more rails extend along at leastmost of the length of the deck.
 11. The snowshoe of claim 1, wherein thedeck has wider front and rear portions and a more narrow mid portion.12. The snowshoe of claim 11, wherein the boot binding is in themid-portion of the deck.
 13. The snowshoe of claim 2, wherein the cleatsdefine a generally “V” shaped cross section, with the narrow portionfacing forward.
 14. A snowshoe, comprising: a deck having an uppersurface and a bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, anddefining a longitudinal travel direction along its length; a bootbinding mounted to the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivotin its toe area about a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverseto the longitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off theupper surface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deckupper surface; one or more rails projecting from the bottom surface ofthe deck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize thesnowshoe; and one or more cleats extendable below the bottom surface ofthe deck.
 15. A snowshoe, comprising: a deck having an upper surface anda bottom surface, the deck being longer than it is wide, and defining alongitudinal travel direction along its length; a boot binding mountedto the deck to hold a boot such that the boot can pivot in its toe areaabout a pivot axis that is above the deck and transverse to thelongitudinal travel direction, to allow the heel to come off the uppersurface of the deck while maintaining the toe above or on the deck uppersurface; at least two rails projecting from the bottom surface of thedeck and extending along the travel direction, to stabilize thesnowshoe; at least two cleats extendable below the bottom surface of thedeck; and a mechanism for extending each cleat below the bottom surfaceof the deck, and retracting each cleat above the bottom surface of thedeck..